Bogwood Does More Than You Think!

[Rynofasho]

I got a few new pieces of bogwood as I am rescaping and planting soon. My water out of the tap is over 8.5 pH. I soaked the bogwood for 8 hours in 5 gallons of water and for the heck of it I tested the pH the next day --- 7.2! I thought that was rather shocking, so I tested it again, same result.

As another test, when I did a water change (tank pH hovers just over 8), I threw the bogwood in with a bucket of old water and left it for about 15 minutes. The pH of the water was already down to 7.6!

I just thought I'd throw that out there for your info. Not sure if it is just something to do with my water and how it buffers, but the bogwood definitely has a bigger affect for me!

 

[PJPJ]

I got a few new pieces of bogwood as I am rescaping and planting soon. My water out of the tap is over 8.5 pH. I soaked the bogwood for 8 hours in 5 gallons of water and for the heck of it I tested the pH the next day --- 7.2! I thought that was rather shocking, so I tested it again, same result.

As another test, when I did a water change (tank pH hovers just over 8), I threw the bogwood in with a bucket of old water and left it for about 15 minutes. The pH of the water was already down to 7.6!

I just thought I'd throw that out there for your info. Not sure if it is just something to do with my water and how it buffers, but the bogwood definitely has a bigger affect for me!

Tap water can test very high initially then lowers quite rapidly. Leave a glass of tap water standing for 24hrs then test that. Bog wood does make water slightly more acidic dependant upon the ratios.

Regards

PJPJ

 

[Rynofasho]

I tried that twice --- left it for a day and measured and the pH didn't budge.

 

[PJPJ]

Sorry, I missed the word 'old' on you original post.

Have you ever measured the GH and KH?

It could be you have very low buffering properties hence the large swing as you said.

I know my PH dropped a bit after adding new wood but, in time it stopped effecting the PH as much.

I also added some crushed coral to the filter to help improve the buffering and slightly increase the PH.

Regards

PJPJ

 

[Rynofasho]

Only with strips, never with a liquid kit. I know that my water is in fact very hard as evidenced by my glass shower doors being covered with nice mineral deposits

 

[PJPJ]

I'd leave that wood to soak as long as you can then and retest before placing in the tank to make sure you are comfortable with it. Out of interest, is it standard bog wood or mopani etc.

 

[Rynofasho]

Malaysian. I'm ok with lower pH as my tap and tank pH are highish. It has soaked for over a week now so Im ok with it. Still waiting on getting some plants though so the wood wont be going in until I have it planted.